Best week-long family canal boat holidays this summer
Experience a family holiday afloat this summer visiting exciting destinations along the way
Canal boat holidays on Britain’s beautiful inland waterways offer the chance for families to experience an outdoor family adventure together this summer.
Our larger boats offer accommodation for 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 12 people, so they’re perfect for families and multi-generation holidays. Or take a flotilla holiday with another family, booking two boats from the same base at the same time.
To celebrate our special summer holiday offer for weekly breaks on larger family-sized boats (saving up to £1,195* and bringing the cost per person per night down to less than £22), we’ve published a guide to our top 6 week-long breaks for families this summer:
1. Boat through Cannock Chase and Fradley to Drayton Manor Theme Park
On a week’s break from Great Haywood near Stafford, you can cruise to Drayton Manor Theme Park and back. You’ll first head south along the Trent & Mersey Canal, passing through Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the historic town of Rugeley. At Fradley Junction, home of Fradley Pool Nature Reserve, you’ll transfer onto the Coventry Canal. The route then takes you through a series of villages with canalside pubs before reaching Fazeley Junction. Turn right and moor up between Tolson’s Footbridge and Coleshill Road Bridge. From there you can walk to Drayton Manor Theme Park, with over 50 exciting rides and a 15-acre zoo.
The journey to Coleshill Road Bridge and back takes around 22 house and passes through 10 locks (five each way).
2. Cruise across ‘The Stream in the Sky’ and visit Chirk Castle’s Summer of Play
On a week’s break from Trevor near Wrexham, you can travel along the Llangollen Canal to Whitchurch and back. You’ll begin your holiday crossing the UNESCO World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, also known as ‘The Stream in the Sky’, which carries the Llangollen Canal 38 metres high above the Dee Valley. You’ll cross the border into England at Chirk, home of the National Trust’s Chirk Castle, where this summer children can experience the special Summer of Play outdoor event, with interactive activities in the castle estate. Then you’ll pass through the picturesque town of Ellesmere, with woodland walks, castle remains, cycle trails and Boathouse Café at the Mere. You’ll then cruise on through the beautiful Shropshire Lake District to Whitchurch, where you can moor up to explore this historic market town, with a great choice of places to eat out.
The journey from Trevor to Whitchurch and back takes around 25 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).
3. Navigate ‘The Shroppie’ to Norbury and visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker
On a week’s break from Bunbury in Cheshire, you can cruise along the Shropshire Union Canal to Norbury and back. The journey will take you through the Cheshire countryside and across the Nantwich Aqueduct, with views across the town. At Hack Green locks, you can moor up to visit the Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker Museum, where kids can follow the Soviet Spy Mouse Trail. At Audlem, you can moor up to visit the canalside Shroppie Fly pub and at historic Market Drayton you can sample the town’s famous gingerbread men. You’ll cross the Shebdon Aqueduct and pass Loynton Moss Nature Reserve, before reaching Norbury Wharf and the canalside Junction Inn.
The journey to Norbury and back takes around 31 hours and passes through 58 locks (29 each way).
4. Travel up the famous Caen Hill flight, see Stonehenge gold and cruise through the Vale of Pewsey
On a week’s break from Bradford on Avon on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire, you can cruise to Pewsey Wharf and back. The journey takes you up the famous 29 locks at Caen Hill, one of the Seven Wonders of the Waterways. You can moor up for a break at the historic market town of Devizes to visit the Wiltshire Museum, where gold from Stonehenge is on display. Next you’ll cruise through the beautiful Vale of Pewsey, part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. At Pewsey Wharf, you can follow the Pewsey Vale Trail and visit the Pewsey Heritage Centre and the Waterfront Bar & Bistro.
It takes around 34 hours to cruise from Bradford on Avon to Pewsey and back, passing through 72 locks (36 each way).
5. Travel by boat through the Shropshire Lake District to Llangollen in the Welsh Mountains
On a week’s break from Whixall, on the Prees Branch of the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire, you can cruise to the historic town of Llangollen and back. Along the way, you’ll travel through the Shropshire Lake District to Ellesmere, with its beautiful Mere, castle remains, cycle trails and woodland walks. You’ll cross the border into Wales at Chirk and begin cruising the 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal designated a World Heritage site, including tunnels, lift bridges and the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. At the historic market town of Llangollen, nestled in the Berwyn Mountains, you can visit the famous Horseshoe Falls, the Llangollen Steam Railway and you can climb up to Castell Dinas Bran for amazing views.
The journey from Whixall to Llangollen and back takes around 24 hours and passes through four locks (two each way).
6. Navigate to Warwick Castle to watch live action jousting!
On a week-long holiday from Wootton Wawen, you can cruise to Warwick Castle, said to be Britain’s greatest medieval experience. The journey begins heading north along the Stratford Canal through the remains of the Forest of Arden. You’ll pass through the village of Lowsonford, with its Fleur de Lys pub, famous for its pies. At Lapworth Junction you’ll take the Lapworth Link and transfer onto the Grand Union Canal. The National Trust’s magnificent Baddesley Clinton moated manor house is a short walk away from there. Next you’ll boat through the 396-metre long Shrewley Tunnel and soon after you’ll reach the top of the flight of 21 locks at Hatton. The Hatton Locks Cafe and Hatton Arms pub are popular places to moor up for a break. In Warwick, moor at the Cape of Good Hope pub to visit Warwick Castle, where you can climb the ramparts and watch the Wars of the Roses Live! Jousting Specular.
The journey to Warwick and back travels 28 miles, passes through 76 locks (38 each way) and takes around 23 hours.
*Discount based on a 12-berth boat from price band 3, departing between 11 July and 28 August 2025.
